Chapter 1258 — Picking Up a Great Power Along the Way

Compared to Nantian, Jingping was countless times smaller.

When Bai Yuqiong arrived at Jingping, it happened to be harvest season, and she saw many minor divine-ability practitioners of the Five Luminaries Realm and the Six Harmonies Realm helping the common folk bring in the crops, thresh grain, till the fields, and channel water for irrigation, even using rain-summoning divine abilities or dispersing clouds and mist. This place was bustling and clamorous. Bai Yuqiong had traveled to many places, and she discovered that when some places suffered disaster, those minor practitioners would go report it to the authorities. The authorities would send many powerful practitioners skilled in the Art of Creation, who used Creation divine abilities to make the crops grow swiftly.

After more than ten days of ceaseless toil, the crops ripened, and these older practitioners were all left badly worn out.

After the harvest, a leader among the practitioners summoned the disaster-stricken folk and said, "The Art of Creation may ease a pressing need, but it thins the soil's fertility, and the land must be fertilized and nourished. Still, it won't delay the next season's harvest. " The disaster victims gave thanks and handed over some money to these practitioners. Bai Yuqiong asked an old farmer, and the old farmer chuckled. "These past few years have been decent.

I've a bit of spare money in hand, so even a lean year won't do me in. " "But paying the practitioners - doesn't that leave you with no money at all? " Bai Yuqiong asked. "Won't wealth just concentrate in the practitioners' hands?

In time, they'll become great clans and powerful houses, holding the nation's wealth in their grip.

" "If you've some martial ability, you can go work in the mines," the old farmer laughed. "You can also grow medicinal herbs.

There are more and more practitioners these days, and they need more and more spirit medicines.

Growing spirit medicines is very profitable! My aptitude isn't good, and I'm getting on in years, but my little grandson is clever - he's already opened the Primal Embryo Divine Treasury, and he's studying at a primary school right now.

" Bai Yuqiong was startled.

The old farmer's brows knit with worry. "Once that little rascal became a practitioner, he turned into another big spender! Luckily he's learned some alchemy and forging, so at the very least he can refine some spirit pills and forge primal weapons to help with the household. If he makes something of himself and cultivates into a deity, that would be wonderful - he could become an official! " His face lit up with excitement.

"Even if he doesn't become an official, if he founds a primary school or an academy, or opens a manufactory or the like, that would bring glory to our ancestors too!

It's only that the court is about to go to war, and if he joins the army, I can't bear to part with him. " A matron nearby laughed. "War is good - promotions come fast! " The old farmer said angrily, "People die in war! " "One soldier of our Jingping is worth ten soldiers of those heavens.

And we'd march with a legitimate cause, under the name of the August Lord of Earthly Virtue - who would dare not surrender? " This matron, however, was a woman of uncommon insight. "Go to war, and the military honors are free for the taking!

" Bai Yuqiong walked through Jingping in a daze.

She saw many practitioners, led by godfiends, building roads and bridges, while others were constructing cities and raising buildings.

On the roads there were many land-going ships, and in the sky, tower-ships and great vessels came and went. All she saw here was utterly different from Nantian.

This place was practically a Heavenly Court in the mortal world!

Yet unlike the Heavenly Court's austere hierarchy - where, apart from the Ten Heavenly Venerables, every god must tread with care, acting cautiously, ever fearful of saying the wrong word, doing the wrong thing, or offending the wrong person - Jingping was far livelier. Bai Yuqiong finally made her decision, and she left Jingping. She hurried toward the lands of Taixu. Coming and going, the journey had taken a full year, but fortunately another her presided over Taixu, so there should be no major trouble.

On the way, just as she was about to reach Taixu, she suddenly saw a flash of light flickering in the starry void.

Drawing near, she saw a human youth in blue robes hurrying through the stars.

The youth looked young, only in his teens, not yet twenty, yet his cultivation was quite extraordinary. He seemed dazed and muddled, walking through the starry void with the sound of the Dao swirling before and behind him, and the light of the Dao rippling around him like waves. Around him there was air, there was starlight, there were fresh flowers growing from the void, blooming and fading.

There was also a strange beast, a dragon-eagle, bearing him on its back, wings beating as it soared through the starry void.

Bai Yuqiong was puzzled.

That dragon-eagle was a mount of the Heavenly Court's Feathered Forest Guard; she could not fathom how it had willingly submitted to this youth. She went up to inquire, and the youth was very amiable, always wearing a silly grin. He said, "Elder sister, my name is Lan Yutian.

" Bai Yuqiong had never heard the name and thought nothing of it. She said, "You're wandering the stars - are you lost? And this dragon-eagle, why do you follow him?

" The dragon-eagle said, perplexed, "I don't know why I follow him either.

I was on leave, just about to fly out and soar about and enjoy myself, when I ran into him just outside the Heavenly Court asking for directions. Somehow, in a muddle, I offered to guide him and willingly became his mount.

But we've flown so long I no longer know where I am. " Bai Yuqiong did not know whether to laugh or cry.

She said, "You're already near Taixu. Hurry back to the Heavenly Court.

" The dragon-eagle thanked her, asked Lan Yutian to dismount, then beat its wings and was gone, turning into a streak of flowing light that vanished into the starry void. Bai Yuqiong was startled.

The Feathered Forest Guard's dragon-eagles were fast, but not that fast! Clearly, during its time following this human youth named Lan Yutian, the dragon-eagle had unknowingly gained many benefits.

Lan Yutian did give off a wondrous feeling. At his side, Bai Yuqiong felt the Great Dao become extraordinarily amiable, and many Dao arts and divine abilities she had never encountered or even imagined before - she naturally understood them, naturally awakened to them. It was very strange. It must be that the dragon-eagle had not been bewitched by Lan Yutian, but drawn by the Dao resonance about the youth, following him in a daze - and gaining many benefits without realizing it. Bai Yuqiong could not help but feel fondness for him.

She laughed.

"You're called Lan Yutian? Shall I call you Lan-di, or Tian-di?

" Then she shook her head.

"Tian-di won't do. It sounds the same as the Heavenly Emperor - that's a capital offense.

" Lan Yutian said, "Elder sister, just call me Yudi. " "The Jade Emperor? " Bai Yuqiong burst out laughing. "That's a capital offense too!

Your name is truly strange - only the surname can be used to address you. Whether I call you Tian-di or Yudi, it means death. Who gave you this name?

It's a bit too grand. " Lan Yutian shook his head.

"I don't remember.

I've lost my memory.

My elder brother doesn't know who gave me the name either.

" Bai Yuqiong took pity on him. She said, "Where are you going, Lan-di? " "I don't know," Lan Yutian answered honestly. "I don't know where I'm going either, and I'm lost besides.

For now, I'll just go wherever I end up. " Bai Yuqiong did not know whether to laugh or cry, and truly felt a tender affection for him.

She said, "Since you've nowhere to go, come with me to Taixu.

Running around like this is no solution.